How many songs can you play?

[Scott Lynch]

Hello all,

Just out of sheer boredom I decided to list all the songs I can play with passable proficiency (amazing what you can do when you're bored out of your mind during quarantine). Perhaps it can come of use whenever things open back up when I'm trying to get into bands, kind of like a resume. Granted I have probably forgotten more than a few basslines here and there over the years been at it since I was in Middle School but here it is.

Blitzkrieg Bop- Ramones (Dee Dee Ramone)
Come Together- Beatles (Sir Paul)
Feel Good Inc- Gorillaz (Damon Albarn)
Fix Me- Black Flag (Chuck Dukowski)
Float On- Modest Mouse (Eric Judy)
Jump Into the Fire- Harry Nillson (Herbie Flowers) (work in progress)
Little Green Bag- George Baker Selection (George The)
London Calling- The Clash (Paul Simonon)
Longview- Green Day (Mike Dirnt)
Low Rider-War (B.B. Dickerson)
Money- Pink Floyd (Roger Waters/David Gilmour)
Only In Dreams- Weezer (Matt Sharp)
Paranoid- Black Sabbath (Geezer Butler)
Pump It Up- Elvis Costello (Bruce Thomas)
Should I Stay or Should I Go- The Clash (Paul Simonon)
Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana (Krist Novoselic)
So Lonely- The Police (Sting)
Stir It Up- Bob Marley and the Wailers (Aston Barrett)
Sweet Emotion- Aerosmith (Tom Hamilton)
Time- Pink Floyd (Roger Waters/David Gilmour)
With or Without You- U2 (Adam Clayton)

Main Riffs from
Evil-Interpol (Carlos Dengler)
Journey to the East Bay- Rancid (Matt Freeman)
Love Will Tear Us Apart- Joy Division (Peter Hook)
New Years Day- U2 (Adam Clayton)
Self Esteem- The Offspring (Greg K)
Super Freak/U Can't Touch This- Rick James/MC Hammer (Rick James)

Now I don't know what this accomplished or what is accomplished by posting this, but it's day 22 without the ability to go anywhere. So, yeah. Thanks for the click and hope y'all are staying safe and healthy.

I'm in the 'no idea' camp - I'm in my thirties and have been doing the music thing since I was a kid.

You know, it might not be a bad idea to take this list and put it into a spreadsheet. You could put separate columns for song name, band, style, genre, etc. then just add to it as you learn more.

 

[EXCAV8]

I have about 150 in rotation right now.

 

[kmon]

I can play exactly as many songs as my band is regularly rehearsing(runs 30-50). Tunes don't stick with me.

 

[bcbassman]

Knock On Wood was the first song I learned.
I don't remember the others but there must be a lot of 'em because the people dance when my band plays and strangers want to give me hugs.

Stay Safe at home.

 

[Hevy T]

Maybe 400 to 500 Atleast. But take all the 145s and 1,5s out of Tge picture than maybe 50 or 60

 

[Hevy T]

I dont know how many times I've been ask if I know a song and I answer, "nope I've never even heard of it before...ok lets do it"

Granted its usually 145 stuff . However, sometimes in get caught and totally get screwed lol! Good example is Stormy Monday! To this day that song makes me mad lol

 

[red_rhino]

I can only play one song at a time.

 

[dreamadream99]

How many songs can you play?

If I’ve never heard it? None of ‘em.
If I’ve heard it? Most of ‘em.
If I have written music? All of ‘em.

 

[HolmeBass]

Many 100’s, with a set list and time to refresh my memory. I’ve played almost every song on your list at one time or another, but cold off the top of my head there would be parts that I’d fumble. Like the transitions from the 7/4 section to the 4/4 section and back in Money. Actually, probably need to brush up a bit on the chorus too. But 1/2 an hour a couple of night this week and it would be ready for the weekend.

So in one sense hundreds and hundreds, but in another sense probably only 50, and most of those would be originals in bands I play in.

 

[Mr Cheese]

Hello all,

Just out of sheer boredom I decided to list all the songs I can play with passable proficiency (amazing what you can do when you're bored out of your mind during quarantine). Perhaps it can come of use whenever things open back up when I'm trying to get into bands, kind of like a resume. Granted I have probably forgotten more than a few basslines here and there over the years been at it since I was in Middle School but here it is.

Blitzkrieg Bop- Ramones (Dee Dee Ramone)
Come Together- Beatles (Sir Paul)
Feel Good Inc- Gorillaz (Damon Albarn)
Fix Me- Black Flag (Chuck Dukowski)
Float On- Modest Mouse (Eric Judy)
Jump Into the Fire- Harry Nillson (Herbie Flowers) (work in progress)
Little Green Bag- George Baker Selection (George The)
London Calling- The Clash (Paul Simonon)
Longview- Green Day (Mike Dirnt)
Low Rider-War (B.B. Dickerson)
Money- Pink Floyd (Roger Waters/David Gilmour)
Only In Dreams- Weezer (Matt Sharp)
Paranoid- Black Sabbath (Geezer Butler)
Pump It Up- Elvis Costello (Bruce Thomas)
Should I Stay or Should I Go- The Clash (Paul Simonon)
Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana (Krist Novoselic)
So Lonely- The Police (Sting)
Stir It Up- Bob Marley and the Wailers (Aston Barrett)
Sweet Emotion- Aerosmith (Tom Hamilton)
Time- Pink Floyd (Roger Waters/David Gilmour)
With or Without You- U2 (Adam Clayton)

Main Riffs from
Evil-Interpol (Carlos Dengler)
Journey to the East Bay- Rancid (Matt Freeman)
Love Will Tear Us Apart- Joy Division (Peter Hook)
New Years Day- U2 (Adam Clayton)
Self Esteem- The Offspring (Greg K)
Super Freak/U Can't Touch This- Rick James/MC Hammer (Rick James)

Now I don't know what this accomplished or what is accomplished by posting this, but it's day 22 without the ability to go anywhere. So, yeah. Thanks for the click and hope y'all are staying safe and healthy.

Around 60-ish.

 

[roccobass]

Not sure I could list them. Hundreds of them.

I agree. Quite a few.

 

[crankypants]

At least 3 or 4.

 

[BBQV]

 

[cooperman20]

You have all the ones you have played stored in your memory - just needs someone to start paying a song and your away - won't be note perfect but a lot of fun.
Sitting in with lots of different bands does it

 

[Biggbass]

I'd say the total number is uncountable, but right now the lyrics app on my iPad has 568 songs on it, all of which I play with one band or another.

 

[el murdoque]

Ready for recording - which means I can play it note for note without flaw when you wake me up at four in the morning and push a bass in my lap: Maybe three.

Really good - like exactly on the recording of the original or exactly as the arrangement dictates: Around 25.

Sufficient - like when you just wanna play that song. And 95% of the audience will not even notice you're not doing it 100%, but rather go with the flow of the drummer (who is also not playing exactly what the original drummer did): The estimates get rougher, but I'd guess well over a hundred.

Faking it okay'ish enough to give it a try: A couple more, maybe twice as many, so 200-300.

 

[MVE]

I don't "learn songs," and never have. I've never approached it that way. I learn music, I learn how to use my ear, and I learn my instrument. It's not like I pick a song, study it, and then chalk it up as a song I have "learned," and can't do anything else. Doing it that way, you are pretty much incompetent as a musician. You can't listen, improvise, or transpose, which is 90 percent of real-world playing (unless you are a studio musician or orchestral player).

I understand what you are saying, but you still need to learn the chord changes for any particular song. If you are using your ear and transposing, then you obviously don’t yet KNOW the song. You are, by definition, still in the process of learning it.

 

[two fingers]

Not sure I could list them. Hundreds of them.

Yeah this. Heck, this list if songs I have performed live in front of people would be hundred. I might be getn old.

 

[SteveHeissner]

It varies. 120 at this time.

 

[Richard Martin]

I've forgotten how to play significantly more than you've learned how to play.